Hole in pop up roof Bellows

[Xpatbrown]

I am a proud owner of a Cali Beach and absolutely love it. However …… I have a small hole in the bellows at the back. It is obviously catching somehow in the scissor action fold down contraption. My problem is that I am a solo traveller and it is not possible for me to check that the canvas hasn’t caught when I fold it down. I noticed the hole very soon after purchase and went straight back to my dealer. VW refuse to cover it on warranty because their instructions state that the bellows should be checked when being folded down.
I put a small patch on the hole but it has worn through already.
Has anyone else had this problem? I’d love to speak to someone.
I’m on the Sunshine Coast in Qld.

 

[WelshGas]

I am a proud owner of a Cali Beach and absolutely love it. However …… I have a small hole in the bellows at the back. It is obviously catching somehow in the scissor action fold down contraption. My problem is that I am a solo traveller and it is not possible for me to check that the canvas hasn’t caught when I fold it down. I noticed the hole very soon after purchase and went straight back to my dealer. VW refuse to cover it on warranty because their instructions state that the bellows should be checked when being folded down.
I put a small patch on the hole but it has worn through already.
Has anyone else had this problem? I’d love to speak to someone.
I’m on the Sunshine Coast in Qld.

A photo would help.

 

[Corradobrit]

Maybe you can pop your head into the roof space as the top closes and check to see if the fabric is folding inwards. I assume you know you have to have door open when performing this manoever to equalize pressures within the cabin.

 

[Corradobrit]

Also do you have the newer double skinned fabric (darker on the outside, lighter inside?) or the older single skinned material?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

A bellow bunge will help prevent this, as helps the fabric folding in.

Also very important that at least 1 door or tailgate is open when you close the roof.

If you lower the roof gently you can see the fabric folding, it you notice its not folding in, try to pull it in place internally, or, go outside the van and slide your hand in the gap to push the fabric in, if you need some height to see, stand on the top of the back wheel.

 

[Dyddi]

G'day. I have the same problem - single driver, floppy bellows - and that's just the van. Solved it with home-made 'bellows bungee'. Raised the roof, measured around the bellows at halfway height and bought length of bungee cord, say 5mm thickness, to suit. Knotted the ends together centre of the back. This applies tension to the bellows as the roof is lowered. Chose a colour of bungee to match the van, very discreet etc. Recently re-tensioned the bungee due to ageing by re-knotting.

 

[Xpatbrown]

I am a proud owner of a Cali Beach and absolutely love it. However …… I have a small hole in the bellows at the back. It is obviously catching somehow in the scissor action fold down contraption. My problem is that I am a solo traveller and it is not possible for me to check that the canvas hasn’t caught when I fold it down. I noticed the hole very soon after purchase and went straight back to my dealer. VW refuse to cover it on warranty because their instructions state that the bellows should be checked when being folded down.
I put a small patch on the hole but it has worn through already.
Has anyone else had this problem? I’d love to speak to someone.
I’m on the Sunshine Coast in Qld.

Thanks for your help everyone. I had no idea about bellows so I’ll give that a try.

 

[Xpatbrown]

Thanks for your help everyone. I had no idea about bellows so I’ll give that a try.

Sorry that should have read bellows bungee

 

[KateCharlie]

Hi, I am a solo traveller also and pop my head up top to watch as I close , only issues for me is when it’s windy and you have to manually correct either from outside or inside, got caught once as it made a different noise as closed but thankfully no holes

 

[Leen]

Hi, the solution is a lifting roof elastic that pulls the cloth inwards, available at many online stores

 

[Leen]

The canvas can be repaired with a Goretex repair set and is waterproof

 

[Ayjay]

As already mentioned, the pop top bungee is the answer to prevent future damage. Here in the UK al least , they're easily available to buy from eBay and elsewhere BUT also very simple to make with a length of bungee cord the colour of choice and a Line Lok guy line runner in the right size.
For repairing the current hole, I recommend Tear Aid tape which is brilliant stuff. Ir's quite expensive when compared to other repair tapes but IMHO, worth every cent. I used it on a tear in my pop top about 4 years ago (a piece stuck to either side)and it's still there and doing the job